FCC Releases Decision on Closed Captioning Matters

On Friday, the Federal Communications Commission released a ruling and notice of proposed rulemaking aimed at taking steps to ensure that all Americans, including persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, can enjoy video programming. FCC Commissioner Michael Copps noted that the order "improves our complaint process. It makes it easier for consumers to get immediate help with specific captioning problems. And it clarifies some important captioning issues as we continue to transition to digital television." But he also noted the move fell short of adopting a recommendation of the FCC's Consumer Advisory Committee "to convene a working group on digital closed captioning that includes representatives from the broadcast, cable and satellite industries, consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers, and captioning providers and consumers. The working group would: 1) identify current and anticipated problems with the transmission and display of digital captioning; 2) evaluate the captioning capabilities of digital equipment; and 3) develop solutions to ensure that captions are passed through intact to the consumer." Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein encouraged the FCC to "persist with reassessing our rules as we transition to digital to ensure that we are meeting the needs of hearing-impaired viewers to the greatest extent feasible."